We are excited to share that “Shine on Rwanda,” with our Kigali based partner “Think About Education Rwanda” (NPO-TER) and “Let There Be Light International” (LTBLI), has completed our second solar light distribution to six villages in the Gicumbi District of northern Rwanda. Three hundred solar lamps were distributed to the most needy families and individuals, including elderly and disabled people as well as children and young mothers. We know that these solar lamps will positively impact their daily lives and well-being.

NPO-TER has a partnership with the Gicumbi District government, which links them to health workers and village leaders. While the Shine On Rwanda initiative provides solar lights, NPO-TER has several other programs in the Gicumbi District, including providing porridge flour to ensure healthy early childhood development, adult literacy programs, and the distribution of seeds to the neediest families.

In the Gicumbi District of northern Rwanda there are many villages without access to the electrical grid. As they are 2 degrees below the equator it gets dark every day at 6:00 PM. Without light many of the most basic functions of daily living become very difficult or impossible. Solar lamps provide solutions.

In Gicumbi, solar lights augment or replace more expensive and potentially dangerous lighting sources including candles, kerosene lamps and flashlights. As shown in the assessment data from our first distribution below, the majority of participants use flashlights as their only source of light. While the use of flashlights is safer than candles or kerosene, flashlights are expensive, they are limited for ambient lighting, and batteries are expensive and dangerous to dispose of.

The government of Rwanda is a leader among African countries, with ambitious goals for nationwide electrification. However, even as more of the country is connected to the electrical grid, much of the population lacks the financial resources to take advantage of grid electricity. And even when a house is connected to the grid, a solar light can be impactful, allowing for more hours of light for household chores, home based business, studying, and safety for all. Solar lamps can also make evening journeys to the outhouse considerably safer.

NPO-TER does detailed assessments on the use and impact of the solar lights approximately three months following each distribution. This follow-up is critically important for understanding the significance of the lamps for the recipients and inform us on how we can optimize the benefits in future distributions.

The assessment from our first distribution, completed in late 2022, provided some interesting highlights:

66% of program participants are women
Average age = 33 years (youngest 2 yrs., oldest 105 yrs.)
Average household income is USD $2/week (20 people reported no income)
Average $ spent per week on lighting = USD $0.24 or 12% of income
91% of participants use flashlights, 5% use candles, 4% have no light

We are committed to continuing solar light distributions with the assistance of NPO-TER and Let There Be Light International, to bring light and well-being to as many people as possible. We currently plan to distribute over 1,000 solar lights in the next 12 months.